Campbell to lead the field in Perth event

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US OPEN champion Michael Campbell will headline the Johnnie
Walker Classic when it returns to Australia next year.

But tournament organisers are impatiently waiting for the
release of the US PGA Tour schedule so they can lure more
high-profile players.

Campbell, six-time major winner Nick Faldo, Scotland's Colin
Montgomerie and Denmark's Thomas Bjorn were announced yesterday as
the first four entrants in the $3 million event to be held at the
Vines Resort in Perth.

The Classic, co-sanctioned by the European and Asian tours,
returns to Australia for the first time since 2002.

Organisers hope defending champion Adam Scott, who won the event
when it was held in China last year, and a host of other Australian
players will compete. But little progress has been made negotiating
with any players based predominantly in the US.

The US PGA is yet to finalise its 2006 schedule, so organisers
are unsure which tour event will clash with the Perth tournament.
The Classic will run from February 9-12, dates which this year
would have clashed with the Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

"Until we know what the schedule is, none of them will say
anything to us," tournament director Steve Foxcroft said. "The four
guys we've announced today play a lot on the European Tour and
their schedule has been announced, so they know what they're doing.
We're quite a few months away yet. I just wish the US Tour would
get their finger out and let us know what's going on."

■ World No. 6 Sergio Garcia has been fined by the European
Tour following an incident at last week's European Masters at
Crans-sur-Sierre in Switzerland.

The 25-year-old Spaniard, who went on to win the title by a
shot, was punished after being reported for kicking an advertising
board after he three-putted the 17th during the third round.

Although the level of the fine was not disclosed, it is believed
to be in the region of £5000 ($A12,050).

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